Passing of Former Baruch College President Clyde Wingfield

Dear Colleagues,

With sorrow we note the passing of an important figure in Baruch College history. Clyde Wingfield was president of Baruch College from 1971 to 1976, and led the College during a time of transition and change. He assumed the presidency only a few years after Baruch College became a stand-alone college in the CUNY system. His leadership helped manage the cooperation and division of roles for the then-existing business and liberal arts programs. There was also a negative Middle States report early in his tenure, to which he reacted quickly and effectively — enacting recommendations from the team, and making many significant and positive changes, including a new governance plan.

Former President Wingfield also took the reigns shortly after the Open Admissions policy was adopted by CUNY. During his tenure Baruch enrollment soared and the college prospered. There was a great increase in the number of female students, as well as significant additions of women, Black and Hispanic faculty members.

Born Clyde Wingfield on March 13, 1931, he earned a PhD from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He served in the U.S. Air Force as an Intelligence Officer in the Korean War. Besides his tenure at Baruch College, he was a professor and university administrator at Texas Tech; Penn State; the University of Texas, El Paso; Southern Methodist University, Dallas; the University of Miami; College at Old Westbury, SUNY; and Northern Illinois University.

He helped to shape the Baruch College we know today. We are grateful for his service and we offer our sincere condolences to his wife, children, and the entire Wingfield family.